The Hindu : Front Page : Nepal developments "in the right direction": Manmohan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 23, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Nepal developments "in the right direction": Manmohan

N. Ram

"The important thing is restoration of multi-party democracy and a government in place to exercise all executive powers"

On board Air India One: Developments in Nepal seem to be rapidly overtaking the Indian Government's ineffective — too little, too late — attempt to keep up with a fast-changing situation that may spell the end of an akratic and hated monarchy. The flat rejection of King Gyanendra's proclamation by the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) — for failing to address "the parties' roadmap and the aspirations of the people" — mirrored the popular revolution on the streets.

On Friday, the King, stating that he was returning executive power to the people of Nepal, to be exercised in accordance with Article 35 of the 1990 Constitution, asked the SPA to recommend as early as possible a name for the post of Prime Minister so that a Council of Ministers could be constituted. This was an implicit rejection of the alliance's roadmap that requires the revival of the dissolved House of Representatives and a constituent assembly to settle the future of Nepal's polity.

Meanwhile, in an on-the-record interaction with journalists on the Air India flight taking him to Germany, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gave a low-key demonstration of how much official India was lagging behind a polity and people in full-scale revolt. Characterising the latest developments in Nepal as being "in the right direction," he clarified that India's role was "to ensure that all elements of the Nepali polity are talking to each other." It was "the role of a conciliator" and the important thing was to ensure the restoration of multi-party democracy. Dr. Singh also said, in response to a pointed question about the future of the monarchy, that there was "no change" in the Indian Government's policy position that a constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy were "the two pillars of the Nepali polity."

Here is the relevant transcript of the Q&A on Nepal:

Question: There has been a major development in Nepal. But on the street the mood seems sour. The Government of India has come out with an endorsement of the King's action. Could you give us an update on this?

Answer: Dr. Karan Singh went as my special envoy. He gave his assessment of the situation in Nepal to His Majesty. I think by and large whatever moves the King has made, they are in the right direction. The important thing is there should be the restoration of multi-party democracy, that there should be a government in place which exercises all executive powers. I think the process has begun.

As for the demand for the revival of Parliament and, further down the road, for the constitution of a constituent assembly, the King has said nothing about it and, in fact, seems to be against it.

Well, our role is to ensure that all elements of the Nepali polity are talking to each other. We are not dictating to them. Our role is the role of a conciliator, to ensure that the democratic process is restored. Now I hope the King and the political parties will be talking about the future consequential steps.

The future of the monarchy itself is up in the air. It's a question mark. Are we keeping our position open or do we stay with the old position — a constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy?

So far our position has been that constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy are the two pillars of the Nepali polity. There is no change in that position.

Do you think Nepal is a failed state?

No, no, we cannot afford to have Nepal as a failed state. Whatever we can do as Nepal's close neighbour, we'll strengthen it in every possible way. I'm not saying that Nepal is a failed state. We have to help Nepal deal with the difficulties it has got into.

Civilian nuclear cooperation

In response to another question, the Prime Minister indicated that energy security and civilian nuclear cooperation would have priority in the list of items he would be discussing with the German Chancellor. "We will be discussing all elements of our strategic partnership with Germany. And therefore energy security will be high on the list of issues that will figure in my discussions," Dr. Singh observed. "I hope Germany can use its influence as a member of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group in support of India being given the treatment that the U.S. has promised us. What we are seeking is that India should not be denied the benefits of trade in civilian nuclear technology, products, and processes. That's what we are seeking. We're not asking the world to supply us bombs! All we're asking for is cooperation in the civilian nuclear field."

Asked about the Government's reported unhappiness over a United States move to introduce in the draft agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation an external restraint on nuclear testing in a context where the Indian Government has declared a unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing, the Prime Minister responded: "That's all. Nothing that is not mentioned in the July 18 [2005] joint statement — we are not obliged to accept anything which is not part of the July 18 statement. We have stated there that we have declared unilaterally a moratorium on further tests."

In response to a question whether the nuclear testing issue could become "a sticking point," Dr. Singh commented: "I hope not. I'm not an astrologer but I hope not."

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